Interest growing in birth tissue donor services

Sherry Spradling has been working in the donor services field for a little more than 25 years — right out of college.

Now, she is starting a much-needed service in the state with her new business, Birth Tissue Donor Services.

"I began with the Red Cross when it was starting its cord blood program," she said. "The last 10 years, I've been concentrating on birth tissue donations."

Birth tissue refers to what is most commonly thrown out as medical waste, such as placenta and umbilical tissue.

"As a recovery group, we don't store or process the donation, but optimize it," she said. "We can always find a place for that tissue.'

Placental and umbilical tissue have a variety of benefits for people of all ages.

"It primarily began as a device that was used for wound care with diabetic patients," Spradling explained. "Now, it's being used for burn victims and some surgical applications, such as corneal tears, spinal injections and pelvic mesh."

She works with many different groups and one donation can make a difference in many lives.

"I am working on getting hospitals on board and educated," she said. "There's really nothing the doctors or hospital does, it's that easy."

It's all voluntary on the mother's part.

"All the mother needs to do is get on our registry, we give informed consent and need a medical history and a blood test," Spradling said. "That's it."